April 28, 2013

Two women with Western North Carolina paddling ties have made big waves today.

Sixteen-year-old Rowan Stuart from the tiny town of Stecoah in Graham County and Adriene Levknecht, a 24-year-old paramedic who formerly lived in Asheville, are now heading to the world stage.

Levknecht earned a spot Sunday on the U.S. National Freestyle Kayak Women’s Team at the three-day USA Canoe/Kayak Freestyle Team Trials under a soaking rain on the Nantahala River, while Stuart earned a spot on the national junior team.

The women competed among the best freestyle kayakers in the country in the high-octane, high-flying aerial paddling sport and will now represent the United States at the International Canoe Federation Freestyle Kayak World Championships Sept. 2-8 on the same venue.

The K1 winner today was Dane Jackson of Rock Island, Tenn., who was the Junior Champion at the 2011 World Championships in Germany. Because of that status, he automatically got a spot on the U.S. team, said event director Zuzana Vanha, but he competed anyway and won.

Bryan Kirk of West Virginia, a six-time member of the U.S. Freestyle Kayak Team, was second overall K1 men’s.

The K1W winner is Haley Mills, 27, originally from Elizabethtown, Ky., but who now lives in her truck. (Levknecht placed second).

The K1Junior men’s winner is Alec Voorhees, and the C-1, or canoe, winner is Dane Jackson.

Our photographer John Fletcher, who got soaked today at the competition at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, will have photos and video of the event online soon.

Congratulations to everyone who competed and braved the atrocious elements today!

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Karen Chavez and her dog Shelby will take you on their outdoor adventures in one of the greatest outdoor towns in America. They also want to hear about your adventures and answer your outdoor questions.
Contact Karen by email at kchavez@CITIZEN-TIMES.com.